MP3: Joell Ortiz & KXNG Crooked – Memorial Day [Prod. The Heatmakerz]

Joell Ortiz & KXNG Crooked met the year they both won XXL’s coveted Freshmen of the Year Award. Their careers are as legendary as any in the rap game. Joell Ortiz started by signing to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label, then moving to Shady Records as part of the supergroup Slaughterhouse with Joe Budden, Royce 5’9, and KXNG Crooked.

Meanwhile, KXNG Crooked was signed to Virgin Records at just 17 before joining Death Row Records. He’s had a flourishing solo career including collaborations along the way with Tech N9ne, 2Pac, Benny The Butcher, Raekwon, Akon, Ray J, and more.

After recently reconvening on Eminem’s newest album ‘Music To Be Murdered By’, one-half of Slaughterhouse have come back together for a new joint project, ‘H.A.R.D.’, which will be released on 5.29.2020 by Mello Music Group.

After announcing their collaborative union by unveiling the project’s title track, Joell & Crooked return to salute and pay homage to the family, friends, and loved ones we have lost.

“‘Memorial Day’ paints a picture of a scene all too familiar in the hood unfortunately. We take losses at a young age due to violence, drugs, health issues, etc. This year, a pandemic contributed to those losses in a swift and severe way” Joell commented. “RIP to my childhood friend and high school teammate Terrence “T-Black” Earlington and to my homie and 1/2 of our ‘Gorilla Glue’ duo Frederick “Fred da Godson” Thomas. To all the many more who have fallen, you are missed and remembered.”

“November 11th, 2019 my friend and fellow Long Beach rapper Bad Azz died. 2020 brought more death into my personal life when my Father passed and then my children’s grandmother. Cali mourned the deaths of Kobe, GG, and all the passengers in that fatal helicopter crash. The globe mourns for those lost to the Coronavirus” Crooked stated. “This Memorial Day will hit me and many others way differently. Music is part of the healing process.”

Joell & Crooked’s ‘H.A.R.D.’ features production from illMind, Erick Sermon, Apollo Brown, Heatmakerz, & J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and will be released on 5.29.2020 via Mello Music Group.